GASB Postgraduate Technical Assistant Program

Both the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board sponsor a postgraduate technical assistant program twice a year (programs commence in summer and winter) for individuals who are planning a career with an emphasis in accounting. Each program is a one-year term, during which the individual becomes highly involved with the accounting standards-setting process and comes to have an in-depth understanding of the roles played by preparers, auditors, and users of financial information.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Postgraduate Technical Assistants will be assigned to major agenda projects or to short-term practice and implementation issues, depending on the need for staff assistance. Postgraduate Technical Assistants will be involved in all phases of their assigned projects, including analyzing written submissions received on documents issued for public comment, reviewing and analyzing published research, preparing memorandums on technical issues for Board members’ information, drafting due process documents, and evaluating accounting proposals of other organizations. Additionally, Postgraduate Technical Assistants will attend and occasionally participate in public Board, task force, and other meetings pertinent to their projects.

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates for the internship program must be nominated by a member of their schools’ accounting departments and approved by the dean or department chairperson. Candidates must be enrolled in a graduate program in accounting at the time of their nomination. Candidates must have an outstanding academic record, strong oral and written communications skills, and have completed course work that provides a thorough knowledge of accounting theory and practice.

COMPENSATION

Salaries are competitive with public accounting and private industry.

HOW TO APPLY

Invitation letters, including an information packet, are sent to schools each September. A school can nominate one qualified candidate for each of the four programs: FASB summer program, GASB summer program, FASB winter program, and GASB winter program. Faculty members will be required to furnish a résumé and transcripts for each nominated candidate, which should describe coursework, work experience, grades, standardized test scores, and other qualifications, and send to Human Resources, Financial Accounting Foundation, 401 Merritt 7, PO Box 5116, Norwalk, CT 06856-5116